Paint and Body Basics - Paint Now

A Back-To-Basics Approach To Making It Smooth & Making It Shine

One of the most challenging obstacles for a conversion painter to overcome at this point is how to determine whether the metallic pattern is even and, if spot painting, making sure that the color and metallic pattern matches the existing finish. Because of the matte appearance that the waterborne base takes on when it flashes dry, the visual aspect of determining color-match accuracy and proper surface texture is no longer reliable. The painter must rely on the knowledge that you have selected the correct sealer, mixed the base color accurately, and applied the correct spraying technique during both the coverage and control coats because until the final clearcoat is applied, the basecoat will have an orange peel texture to it and the color will not take on its true tone even under ideal lighting. The tried-and-true painter's practice of simply dipping the mixing stick into the paint to check for color-match accuracy is also out the door with waterborne base colors.

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For painters who are just starting out with waterborne paints, Ramos highly recommends using the viscosity cup during the mixing process to assure correct reduction of the paint. Incorrect viscosity such as a mixture on the thin side will result in a topcoat separation that takes on the appearance of the dreaded fisheyes. For those that have no prior background in solvent-based painting, textbook procedures such as this are good to learn and should be made part of your regular mixing routine.

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The mechanics of building a street machine sometimes hold enough of the unexpected to challenge even the most devout DIY-er. Enter the painting arena and the variables can and often do increase exponentially. Add to this the constantly changing chemistry of paint materials to accommodate new OE colors as well as the limitations set forth by air quality management agencies, and painting can turn into quite a challenging task. As automotive technologies progress, it is the ongoing job of our clean-air agencies to observe that progress and find new and better ways to keep our world clean. Sometimes, it's not easy to accommodate the changes that come about, but when change is inevitable, it's usually better to embrace them rather than to resist.

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Cost And Quality Comparison
We had a unique opportunity to see the difference between a single-stage, solvent-borne color versus the same color formulated with Envirobase HP waterborne-based paint. We ordered a quart of Omni (PPG's economy paint line) from a local paint supplier with the understanding that this would be a single-stage paint with no clearcoat. We were also advised that this particular color formula (Corvette Arctic White) might not provide as good a color match as the waterborne Envirobase High Performance waterborne basecoat/clearcoat system would. We thanked them for their advice and proceeded to paint the parts with the solvent-borne, single-stage paint.

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The Omni single-stage paint formula consisted of the same four toners as the Envirobase HP basecoat/clearcoat formula, however, as our paint supplier predicted, we noted that there was a slight color variance under certain light. The accompanying photo shows that difference especially with the license plate frame. The Omni color match passed the inspection of most who saw the job, but discerning eyes noticed the brighter shade of white on the repainted parts. The gloss and texture of the Omni single-stage was beautiful, however, this type of paint was not intended to give a precise panel-to-panel match.

The Envirobase HP basecoat system is designed to provide an exact color match to the OE finish. Specific sealer, an extensive selection of basecoat toner formulas, and the VOC-compliant clearcoat help the painter accomplish this.

If you are planning to paint your car, you'll want to know what type of paint to use and how to apply it. Basic body mods are those that require little or no fabrication and can be performed with ordinary handtools. Body and underhood bolt-ons fall into the very basic category and are the perfect starting point to learn how to work on the body of your car and color-match the paint. Clean-air materials are where it's at, so for a first-hand learning experience with PPG's new Envirobase High Performance waterborne basecoat paint, we decided to try it out.

For the latest information and demonstration of proper technique using waterborne paint, we took our parts over to the PPG's Los Angeles Training Center in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. There, PPG Technical Sales Instructor Frank Ramos covered many of the topics that are part of his classroom discussions. Students range from the do-it-yourselfer to experienced pros. Here, Frank looks up the color formula on the computerized database to mix up a small portion of Envirobase High Performance waterborne basecoat in Arctic White.

The first step was to prepare the surface of each part. Preparation for a waterborne basecoat requires sanding with a finer grit due to the paint's thinner dry film. This means that the actual solid layer that remains on the substrate after the reducer has evaporated is much thinner than that of a solvent basecoat. A thinner film will conform more to surface irregularities and grit marks. Solvent bases tend to hide more with a thicker film. Larger panels can be sanded with a random orbital dual-action sander but these pieces were simply scuffed by hand. Frank is working on the parts in the Training Center's prep station, which ventilates particles down and away. Without forced-air ventilation, you should always wear a NIOSH-approved respirator.

A more familiar way of prepping for paint is done in the driveway. Having an air compressor is required for operating air tools but is not an absolute necessity. Small parts such as these can be prepped by hand. If you have the luxury of pneumatic power, you'll want to use a random-orbital sander rather than a fixed orbital. Remember to always place the pad onto the surface first and then activate the sander. This will prevent the pad from free-spinning and cutting into the surface.

The basic Envirobase HP basecoat consists of the paint, which will come from your paint supplier in non-corrosive plastic containers, and the reducers. There are a number of Envirobase components available for specific applications and special conditions. You can view the entire line of products on the PPG website. Waterborne materials should always be stored in non-corrosive containers.

This is what you might find behind the scenes in the mixing room of your paint supplier. This is the PPG Training Center's Envirobase HP toner system.

You will note the absence of an air-powered stirring apparatus that is part of solvent-based toner system.

This is what a container of Envirobase toner looks like. Dispensing the waterborne toner requires just a quick 2-second shake of the container before it is poured out.

This can be a big time-saver since mixing a solvent-borne base color requires several minutes of agitation. Each toner must be carefully weighed according to the formula.

Another method for matching a color is to refer to samples in a color deck, also known as color chips. This is oftentimes more accurate than ordering by the manufacturer's color code due to variations in factory paint, the fade factor of older paintjobs, etc. While most of us will leave the mixing to a paint supplier, knowing what takes place during the mixing process may be helpful if color adjustments are necessary.

The PPG Training Center is set up as any well-equipped shop should be. A modular stand is used to prop up the parts for painting. Masking paper will keep overspray to a minimum.

Prior to stepping into the booth, a Sata HVLP gun is loaded with sealer in a disposable cup liner.

DIY single-stage
PPG's Omni system of paints is solvent-based and although there are fewer color choices available, it is an economical choice for painting your car. The single-stage paint is a good choice for doing it yourself in terms of simplicity and cost.

Prior to applying any sealer, basecoat, or clearcoat, always gear up with an approved respirator or a supplied-air hood such as this Sata Vision 2000. You only have one set of lungs, so protect them whether you are spraying solvent- or water-based material.

All spray guns have a dual-action trigger. Pulling the trigger halfway releases air only. You can use the gun in this way to blow the parts off one last time while wiping with a tack rag to remove any dust particles that might otherwise ruin a nice finish.

Two coats of sealer are applied to the parts, allowing a flash time of 10 minutes between each coat.

While the sealer is setting up, use the time to clean your equipment. Putting this off will only make the clean-up more difficult.

The waterborne basecoat is being applied here. Ramos has switched from a standard HVLP gun to a special Satajet 3000 designed for applying waterborne paint.

The internal components of this gun are corrosion resistant.

Close examination of these photos shows the texture and matte finish of the waterborne paint.

Do not be alarmed at the orange-peel look. This is normal.

A fairly recent addition to the painter's tool box is the dryer. A small handheld dryer such as the Sata Dry Jet is ideal for drying the small parts. The wall-mounted dryers that you see in the corner of the booth would be used when a complete car is painted.

Most clearcoats consist of two components: the clear and the catalyst. A fast drying high-temp catalyst is recommended for spot painting or parts painting. A medium catalyst should be used for complete paintjobs to allow enough time for coating the entire car without dry spots.

With the aid of the dryer, the waterborne base is ready for clear within 10 minutes. Always follow the paint manufacturer's recommendations that are printed on the label regarding reduction, application, and flash times. Two coats of clear are applied with about a 10-minute flash time between coats.

The finished paintjob! Total time from sanding to final clearcoat was a mere two hours.

Whether choosing to do it yourself with a budget-priced paint or having a pro do it with the latest waterborne system, painting remains one of the most rewarding modifications that you can make.

One of the main advantages to a paint system such as Envirobase High Performance is the fast setup that allowed us to paint in the morning and reinstall the parts that afternoon.

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